Related Hong Kong Favorites Tips

Favorite thing: --

One morning while I was in Hong Kong in 1965 I took a tour of the New Territories, including old villages, new factories and a glimpse of the border between Hong Kong and mainland China, which at the time was routinely called "Red China" by the Americans.

On the tour they explained that the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong consisted of three parts: Hong Kong Island, which the Chinese emperor ceded to Britain "in perpetuity" after a war in 1841; Kowloon, which was ceded in 1860; and the New Territories, which were leased to Britain for ninety-nine years starting in 1898.

When I was there everybody was wondering what would happen thirty-two years later in 1997 when the lease expired.

What actually happened was that not only the New Territories but also Hong Kong Island and Kowloon were returned to China. So the former British Colony of Hong Kong is now a "Special Administrative Region" as a part of the People's Republic of China.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Favorite thing: --

Since Hong Kong was and is one of the most densely populated places in the world, they have to build numerous tall buildings to accommodate everybody.

In 1965 I was duly impressed by the Hong Kong skyline, though I am sure my old photos must look quaint to anyone who knows Hong Kong today, since many more and much larger buildings have been built in the meantime.

In one of the letters that I wrote after my return to Phước Vĩnh, Vietnam, I wrote:

Hong Kong was a welcome relief from the idiocy and injustice -- and heat -- of Vietnam. I had a very fine time; did a lot of walking around the hills of Hong Kong Island.

And in another letter I wrote:

Hong Kong was a good thing: cool, peaceful, clean -- well, not really clean, but the accumulated filth doesn't fester like it does in Vietnam, nor does Hong Kong have the pervasive smell of swamp- and fart-gas that hangs over Saigon.

Favorite thing: actually, the rooms in HK hotels are very small unless you stay in the 5 star ones. The Ah Shan Hostel, although a hostel, can accommodate up to about 6 persons to a room but then it would be really tight.

Ideally, when booking with a hostel, you need to get accomodations for at least 1 person more than your party. for instance, because there are 4 of you, then get a room for 5 or 6. that way, you are sure that the room or space will be large enough for everyone.

Favorite thing: I guess what the guys would like to say is exactly what I said. You can take as little as 1 day to cover the place. But, that is strictly sticking to the places you have mentioned. However, if you are going to be adventurous and would be flexible with your schedule, then you will definitely find other sites along the way.

Hongkong is a very diverse country. There are a lot of things you can do or see that you just have to choose which ones you prefer the most. If you don't make a plan, you'll end up confused. I've stayed there for 7 days and spent almost 6 hours in the Hongkong Museum of History alone. Yet, I still found that I should have stayed longer. Now, we would like to go back there to go to those museums again. LOL

Favorite thing: We visited Disneyland in December and for the very reason of not wanting to be baked red under the sun. You see, my family and I don't like to play and perspire. The winter breeze ensured that we maintained our cool.

The temperature was a cool 15 degrees and we enjoyed the weather thoroughly. Just a simple sweater or a pullover will do.

Favorite thing: Rightfully, HK is Asian designers capital. You could read that from its architecture, to open public areas such as parks and squares, roadsides, children playgrounds, dogs parks… and it doesn't end there. One must not only look on the surface – here there are great interiors of museums and exhibition halls, restaurants, shopping plazas… and most carefully designed restrooms – toilets – in some of the selected buildings.

Here on the photo I want to include one such restroom which you could use if you have been briefly in the building – that one was from Pacific Place, large mall next to High Court in HK Island. Fine design, wooden material… soft shapes and mellow lights. Very elegant. Not all the toilets are boring and stinky places where you want to leave fast. These are worth to look at – and yes, it makes you discuss about them.

Interior of Pacific Place was design of English architect Thomas Heatherwick. Place worth to visit even if you don't want to buy anything.

http://www.pacificplace.com.hk/en/

Address:
Pacific Place
13/F One Pacific Place
88 Queensway
Hong Kong

1 more image

Favorite thing: So, what's next: International Commerce Centre (ICC)! It is going to be next tallest building in Hong Kong – 118 storeys and total height will take 484 m; this will make it for the world 3rd building.
It is scheduled to have it completed in 2010, so lets wait a bit and see. When we were visitng HK in early 2009 they were completing the top while lower parts had already used space for offices, and well… you often had bad weather when you couldn't see most of the building, let alone top of it.
So far there are these plans:
2 luxurious hotels: 5 star Ritz Carlton on the top 15 floors; the observation deck and there are going to be top restaurants, indoor swimming pool, spa, conference and that. So, if that happens… at least a glass of wine we could afford there, I hope. If not, I hope they won't charge for views – they say it will be public.

Other hotel will be W Hong Kong with suites, restaurants, rooms etc… the rest of building will be shared among variety of uses. Offices to restaurants, bank departments to spas, shopping to entertainment, residental areas… all that luxurious stuff.

It is part of huge West Kowloon project and the architecture of ICC was done by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates.

Favorite thing: If you child is celebrating his/her birthday during that particular month you're visiting Disneyland, do not forget to ask for a birthday badge. The child will be warmly greeted from the word go. We had the band play for us a birthday song, the elves dancing along with the kids, and different disney characters coming up to us to wish my daughter a happy birthday.

Fondest memory: I'm truly impressed by their very well-trained staff who, in an instance, would come by and wish my daugther a happy birthday. It all just boils down to a badge that they see. So bring your child to Disneyland during the month of his/her birthday. Guaranteed they will remember their special birthday treat for life.